838: Regan Baker: Building A Team That Supports Your Core Values
838: Regan Baker: Building A Team That Supports Your Core Values
837: Flashback Friday: Nicole Gibbons: Interior Designer, TV Personality, Founder and CEO of Clare
Today With Nicole Gibbons:
Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Today is a Flashback Friday episode, where we revisit some of the most popular shows from our archives. I hope you enjoy Nicole Gibbons’ episode that originally aired as episode 411!
On today’s show, Nicole talks about how she created her career by design, how TV really doesn’t pay as much as you would expect, the way that Nicole helps people with their color choice, and so much more!
More About Nicole Gibbons:
Nicole Gibbons is an interior designer, tastemaker, blogger and on-air personality best known for her fashion-forward point of view on style for the home. As a highly sought after expert, Nicole has been featured in top media outlets such as HGTV, TLC, The Rachael Ray Show, InStyle, House Beautiful, Martha Stewart Living, Real Simple, Better Homes & Gardens, Good Housekeeping, Apartment Therapy, Lonny, People Magazine, Domino, Elle Decor and more. She can also be seen helping deserving families re-imagine their living spaces as a designer on the Emmy Award-winning TV show Home Made Simple airing Saturday mornings on OWN, the Oprah Winfrey Network.
Nicole has also collaborated on special projects with top home and lifestyle brands including American Express, Lowe’s Home Improvement, GODIVA, Target & Pier 1 Imports. Originally from Michigan, Nicole earned her undergraduate degree from Northwestern University and lives in Harlem, a historic neighborhood in upper Manhattan. With a lifelong passion for design coupled with a fun, unpretentious approach to decorating and a strong media presence, this designer-to-watch is quickly earning a reputation as the voice of decorating for a new generation of passionate home enthusiasts.
Connect with Nicole Gibbons
What’s new with LuAnn Nigara
https://www.luannnigara.com/cob
Get The Goodies!
For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.
To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!
Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:
Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts
Pre-Order Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2
Connect with LuAnn Nigara
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Blog
Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast
Other Shows Mentioned:
#411: Nicole Gibbons: Interior Designer, TV Personality, Founder and CEO of Clare
#406: Ashley Grigg, Lisa Mende and Jeanne Chung
#407: Century Furniture with Carrier & Co
#408: Visual Comfort with Lauren Rottet
Other Resources Mentioned:
837: Flashback Friday: Nicole Gibbons: Interior Designer, TV Personality, Founder and CEO of Clare
836: Susie Novak: Mastering Your Success With A Mastermind
Today With Susie Novak:
Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today I am speaking with Susie Novak, owner of Susie Novak Interiors on a variety of topics. One being what it’s like being a part of a mastermind group. Spoiler alert: it’s fantastic to be a part of a mastermind. And hey, why not start your own? Susie has a good size design team too, so we also talk team tips, sustainability and networking.
Pick It Apart
[1:50] Susie shares with us how she formed her mastermind group.
[11:20] How accountability plays a role in her mastermind.
[25:10] LuAnn and Susie discuss the importance of having diversity within a group.
[35:03] Susie shares tips on how to manage a big team.
[39:20] Tips on how to drum up more business.
[46:27] What sustainability means for Susie in her business.
LuAnn Nigara and Susie Novak’s Ah-Ha Moments
“I think you find balance in unique ways.” – Susie Novak
“If you can put a room together, but also explain the global perspective of using higher quality pieces that are built to last and can be reupholstered, that’s a win win for clients, our Earth and our profitability.” – LuAnn Nigara
More About Susie Novak:
Susie’s aesthetic is a combination of California Modern with a British flair. Known for her love of clean neutrals, bold pops of color and modern sculptural forms, Susie’s work has been nationally and internationally recognized in Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, Modern Luxury Silicon Valley, WSJ and more.
Skilled at creating beautiful residential designs under a variety of budgets, styles, timeframes, and requirements, Susie guides her clients through every phase of the design process. Originally trained as an artist, Susie transitioned into the Interior Design world in 2016 after receiving her certification from the Interior Design and Architecture program at UC Berkeley. She calls Oakland, California home where she lives in a 1920’s Tudor remodel with her husband and two daughters. California is an abundant source of inspiration for a life in design and Susie is continually pulling ideas from her travels including many in her home state.
Connect with Susie Novak
What’s new with LuAnn Nigara
https://www.luannnigara.com/cob
Get The Goodies!
For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.
To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!
Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:
Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts
Pre-Order Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2
Connect with LuAnn Nigara
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Blog
Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast
Other Shows Mentioned:
#296: Ruthie Staalsen: Find Your Mojo & Your Designer Bestie at an Industry Conference
#553: What Would Lu Do?: When Clients Don’t Understand the Value Of Full Service Design
#722: What Would Lu Do?: Feeling Undervalued and Taken Advantage Of
#784: Kelly Fridline: An Alternative Path- From Architecture to Coaching in Interior Design
836: Susie Novak: Mastering Your Success With A Mastermind
836: Susie Novak: Mastering Your Success With A Mastermind
835: Flashback Friday: Michelle Nussbaumer: Less Is Never More
Today With Michelle Nussbaumer:
Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Today is a Flashback Friday episode, where we revisit some of the most popular shows from our archives. I hope you enjoy Michelle Nussbaumer’s episode that originally aired as episode 124!
On today’s show, Michelle talks about her career, her opinions on the business, and her globetrotting lifestyle. Enjoy!
More About Michelle Nussbaumer:
Michelle is an interior designer, textile and furniture designer, an author and owns a beautiful shop: Ceylon et Cie located in the Dallas design district. Michelle’s journey includes a husband and four children and it starts in west Texas. She goes from New York, Rome, Los Angeles and all the way back to Texas. Her book for Rizzoli, Wanderlust: Interiors That Bring the World Home was released and it includes thirty years of interior design as well as her travels.
Connect with Michelle Nussbaumer
What’s new with LuAnn Nigara
https://www.luannnigara.com/cob
Get The Goodies!
For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.
To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!
Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:
Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts
Pre-Order Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2
Connect with LuAnn Nigara
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Blog
Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast
Other Shows Mentioned:
#124: Michelle Nussbaumer- Owner & Lead Designer of Ceylon et Cie
835: Flashback Friday: Michelle Nussbaumer: Less Is Never More
834: Paul Mencel: Rockstar Advice, From a Real Life Rockstar On Running a Profitable Business
Today With Paul Mencel:
Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today on the show we have Paul Mencel, a former rock star and the craftsman/entrepreneur behind the gorgeous handmade furnishings at Philadelphia Table Company. What started as a side job between his music tours has grown into a seven-figure business, and Paul is here to tell us how important it is to hire wisely, pay attention to the business end of operations, and price your goods and services appropriately in order to remain profitable.
Paul believes in asking for help when you need it, learning from your mistakes, and the power of mindset. He says that everything he knows about business he learned by being a rockstar, so this is a really fun conversation.
Pick It Apart
[4:28] Paul talks about being a working musician and starting his woodworking business to support himself in between tours and gigs, explaining how the business has grown to a team of six with Paul admitting he is now the least talented member of the team.
[9:10] Paul talks about learning and growing the business through trial and error, and how skills he learned during his career as a rock star transferred into his current business
[15:00] LuAnn explains about learning from mistakes instead of processing them as failures, prompting Paul to tell the story of his $100K “business school lesson”
[19:30] Paul and LuAnn discuss sustainable pricing, being willing to accept “no”, and knowing your value and worth
[29:35] Paul explains the abundance theory, relating his mindset shifts around the uniqueness and luxury of his products, his responsibility to his employees, and how these are both important parts of his pricing structure
[38:20] LuAnn shares her own perspective on the importance of operating within sustainable profit margins
LuAnn Nigara and Paul Mencel’s Ah-Ha Moments
“We’re trying to build something that’s bigger than ourselves. And in order to do that, we need to hire people that are bigger than ourselves. So I give my team a ton of credit.” – Paul Mencel
“You kind of have to stay humble and admit what you don’t know. And really just kind of ask for help when you need it.” – Paul Mencel
“That’s how I was brought up too. Anytime I like made a mistake, or something, my dad would be like, well, that’s a $500 lesson on how to not pop your tire…this is a $5,000 lesson in, you know, not to use this type of wood again.” – Paul Mencel
“The through line, the result [of getting more “no’s” than you are used to] is that the yes’s are your ideal client and they have a better appreciation, and they probably are much more enjoyable to work with.” – LuAnn Nigara
More About Paul Mencel:
Paul is a creator and a doer with a passion for teaching. He hopes to inspire and teach others how they too, are and can, be creators and doers.
Since a young age, he had always worked for myself in some capacity. Driven by the desire to control when and how he makes money, Paul was dedicated to building side hustles while working for various bosses. The first time he realized he could control the way he makes money was at the age of 14 as resident lawn mower in his neighborhood. He began to understand that the more effort and work he put in, the more money he could earn.
Managing his own hours and income allowed Paul the time to pursue his passion for music and play in a rock band, “Bel Heir”. While the band’s main focus was original music and touring, it also doubled as a cover band on Friday and Saturday nights. The band is what really got me excited about business creation in the long term. He was excited by the idea of growing a business in the creative industry, by figuring out how to book the next gig, get on that playlist, and tour with bands they had admired from afar. The drive for himself and his bandmates eventually led to a record deal with RCA records and a Publishing deal with Pulse Recordings. Although Paul did not realize it at the time, the rock band he pursued as a creative outlet was actually a thriving business, and their product was music and live performance.
While signed to RCA, the excitement of building the band as a business-led Paul to a career in music artist management, and he started one of my current businesses: LookUp Ent. With LookUp Ent. Paul earned several platinum plaques and landed a top10 radio hit, with the song “Roses” by The Chainsmokers (written and performed by his client and sister ROZES.)
In between touring and recording with his band he started another small side hustle: custom built furniture. At the time, Paul was building items just for mine and his wife’s apartment, as they could not afford the expensive items they wished to fill their first home. The furniture company, Philadelphia Table Company, grew quickly through word of mouth. Paul started building furniture for his friends, then his friends of friends and eventually to complete strangers. He started in his dad’s garage and within four years the company expanded to a 3,000 square foot warehouse with four full-time employees that they are quickly outgrowing. The company now grosses over a 3/4 of a million dollars a year and has become Paul’s main source of income.
Connect with Paul Mencel
What’s new with LuAnn Nigara
https://www.luannnigara.com/cob
Get The Goodies!
For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.
To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!
Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:
Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts
Pre-Order Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2
Connect with LuAnn Nigara
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Blog
Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast
Other Shows Mentioned:
#814: Michelle Lynn: What Constitutes Billable Hours in an Interior Design Business
#672: Flash Back Friday: Tiffannie White, The Nappy Bohemian: Your “Only” and Lessons From a New Interior Designer
#337: Power Talk Friday: Fred Berns: Set and Get Higher Fees
#696: Lisa Princic: Uncovering the Value Proposition in Your Interior Design Business
